Young guns aim to fire for Taniwha

Northland's ITM Cup squad's two new Auckland loan players, prop Paea Fa'anunu and outside back Bryce Heem, both admit their knowledge of rugby north of Warkworth is a little sketchy but have their own reasons for impressing with the Taniwha this season.
The pair fared poorly in a quick trivia pop quiz on Sid Going's legendary career yesterday and did little better with some of the other Northland All Blacks - although Fa'anunu surprised by picking Norm Maxwell as the most recently capped Northland AB before Rene Ranger - but their answers are hardly a test of their knowledge and more about their age.
Both players are just 21 and play club rugby for Grammar-Carlton, who play perennial champions Ponsonby today in the Auckland Rugby grand final. Both players are disappointed to have injuries that may keep them out of the game but are hoping to be fit in time for Northland's ITM Cup opener against Taranaki on Thursday.
Heem, who strained a calf muscle in the warm-up for Northland's final pre-season hit-out against Auckland on Wednesday is already resigned to taking little part in the final today.
"We've beaten Ponsonby twice already this year so this is the one that really counts but I'm not allowed to play ... so I'll be out there running water, that's just the way it goes sometimes," he said. Fa'anunu copped a rib injury after coming on for a late run for Northland on Wednesday but is still hoping to get on the bench at least for the final today.
The big prop started off playing league as a kid but switched to union at high school and his strength saw him selected as a prop. He plays on either side of the scrum but is more used to loosehead.
He has played international rugby for the national under-19s and under-20s, winning World Cup tournaments in Ireland and Wales respectively. He sees his strengths for Northland this season as a ball runner who likes to have the ball and at nearly 130kg, he takes a fair bit of stopping.
"I've got a few weaknesses in the scrums but I'm working to improve them all the time and I'm looking to get a lot of game time for Northland this season, so I can prove what I'm capable of," he said.
With about 15 or 16 Auckland caps to his name he was disappointed not to be named in the Auckland squad but will look to use his time here in Northland to his advantage.
Heem, too, is looking to get as much game time as he can for the Taniwha.
"At my age you take any offer you get to play at this level, I'm hoping to learn a lot this season but as long as I'm playing I'm happy," he said.
The young back impressed Northland rugby fans playing for the Barbarian's in their match against the Maori at Toll Stadium last month - where he proved he wasn't out of his depth in the star-studded match - and is hoping to get a break in what he sees as an exciting Northland backline.
"I reckon this is an awesome backline and we could really surprise people and go quite far this season," he said.
The  2010  Northland squad: Bronson Murray, Matt Wallis, Paea Fa'anunu, Ross Wright, Mikaele Tuu'u, Tim Dow, Mark Burman, Pat O'Connor, Roy Griffin, Cam Eyre, Cam Goodhew, Dean Budd, Joel McKenty, Sam Barker, Rhyan Caine, Luke Hamilton, David Holwell, Lachie Munro, Aaron Bancroft, Aden Dewes, Adam Clarke, Rene Ranger, Simon Munro, Iwi Hauraki, Bryce Heem, Mateo Malupo, Jared Payne (c).